BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday sought to end the speculation swirling around his continuance as the head of BJP government, saying he will remain in the post as long as he enjoyed the trust of the party high command and will quit the day he is asked to step down.
He said that his party has given him an opportunity to serve the people and that he was trying to make the best use of it.
“The rest is left to the high command,” he added.
On the reported lack of leadership options in the state BJP, Yediyurappa said he would not endorse speculation and added that there is “a plenty of options both at national and state levels”.
The CM said he did not want to criticize anybody, including dissidents who approached the Delhi leadership.
Within hours, the state party leadership came out to back the CM and downplay his statements.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi ruled out “any intention” of replacing him as the CM at present.
“He is doing a good job amid the Covid crisis and despite his age.
He has expressed loyalty to the party and said he would obey the high command’s order.” BSY not power hungry: KateelParty state president Nalin Kumar Kateel said Yediyurappa had proved himself to be an “idol” for the state cadre and his statement was that of a loyal party leader and worker.
“He has never been power hungry.
The BJP has never discussed it (Yediyurappa’s resignation) on any platform.
He is our unanimous leader.
Our national leaders have made it clear there is no change of leadership in the state.
Hence, all these debates are irrelevant,” Kateel said.
Yediyurappa’s close aides – ministers Basavaraj Bommai and R Ashoka — tried to downplay the debate.
“The CM seems to have been pained by some people visiting New Delhi and projecting themselves as leaders and chief minister candidates.
This, at a time when the state is reeling under the pandemic,” said revenue minister R Ashoka.
Asked about the high command’s no-action stance against dissidents, Ashoka said BJP general secretary Arun Singh has made it clear to all of them that there would be no leadership change.
Bommai said the government will prevail upon the national leadership on the need to bring discipline in the party’s rank and file.
Yediyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra read his father’s statement “as nothing but an assertion that the BJP central leadership has backed the CM”.